Music-leaf turner



t e e h S k. t e 8 MN 0 T R H ER E N m T F &L C M U M 0 H T M n d 0 M o W No. 541,900. Patented July 2, 1895.

2 Sheets8heet 2.

(No Model.)

M. THOMSBN & S. E. ALLERTON. MUSIC LEAF TURNER.

No. 541,900. Patented July 2, 1895.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

MAX THOMSEN AND SAMUEL E. ALLERTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

MUSIC-LEAF TURNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 5 1,900, dated July 2, 1895.

Application filed November 16, 1894. Serial No. 8, 67. (N d -l To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MAX THOMSEN and SAMUEL E. ALLERTON, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Music- Leaf Turners, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a device for turning leaves, and more especiallythe leaves of sheet music or music books, and while it is more especially adapted to be applied to pianos, yet it is applicable also to music stands used by orchestras; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construe tion, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects ofour invention are, first, to provide a music leaf turner, which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong and durable, yet effective in operation; second, such a leaf turner which may be so applied to a piano that it will not in any way deface or inar the appearance thereof, and when not in use will be excluded from view, and, third, a music leaf turner, which may be operated by use of the knee or leg of the person performing on the piano or other instrument, thus allowing free use of the hands.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our invention pertains to make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a piano, showing our music leaf turner in position ready for operation. Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the upper portion of the leaf turner, showing the parts in their normal po sition. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjustable operating arm. Fig. 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the leaf turner, showing it detached from the piano andfore-shortened for the convenience of illustration. Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the operating gears. Fig. (i is a plan view of a segmental gear removed from the operating rod. Fig. 7 is a face or edge view of the segmental operating gear illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of a portion of the free end of the operating arm showing the fingers to engage the leaf of music, and the manner of their operation. Fig. 9 is a view in detail of a spring actuated clasp to hold the sheets of music in the desired position after they have been turned. Fig. 10 is a sectional view of a portion of the operating arm, showing a modification in the construction and operation of the fingers. Figs. ll and 12 are diagrammatical views, partly in section, taken on line ll, 11, of Fig. 2, illustrating the operation of the fingers of the operating arm on the sheet of music; and Figs. 13 and 14 are similar views, taken on line 13, 13, of Fig. 10, showing the operation of the fingers in said modification.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the dilferent views of the drawings.

A, represents an upright standard or tube, which is located vertically within the piano at the rear of the key-board. This tube or standard A, has suitable bearings in the pi ano and extends slightly below the bottom of the key-board or desk, and has fixed on its lower end a segmental cogged gear A, which is provided with an opening a, through which the operating rod B, passes. The upper portion of the standard or tube A, is united by means of an adjusting collar 1), with an extension standard or tube A which extends upward and within the recess 1), in the front of the piano, for the reception of the music holder which may be of the ordinary or any preferred kind. The upper end of the standard or tube A is provided with a laterally cxtendinghollow arm A which arm is rigidly fixed to said tube. The upper surface of the arm A is provided with a longitudinal slot a, for the operation of the adjusting set screws a and a whose functions will presently be explained.

Just below the arm A and on the upper portion of the tube A is loosely located a collar D, which is provided with laterally extending arms D, on the free end of each of which is located a spring actuated catch D to hold the sheets of music in the desired position before or as soon as they have been turned. The catches D are journaled on the arms D, and are held in their normal positions by means of a spring d which is connected at one of its ends to the arm and at its other end to the catch. The said catch is provided with; forks -D3, and D both of which are curved-rearwardly,so' that the upper one D will extendto the rear and somewhat above the arm A when the same is in its normal position. The lower prong or fork E is provided with across piece or foot d which rests against the music leaf.

Passing through the. tubes or standards A,

and A is an operating rod B, on' the lower' end of which is fixed a cogged gear E, which meshes with the segmental gear F, which is pivotally secured to the lower surface of thedesk or key-board of the piano by means ofa pin passed through its openingf. This gear is provided with an arm or extension f, which projects forwardly on the piano and is then formed at its free end wi-th a fork f, to engage the knee or leg of-theperformer.

As shownin Figs 5, and 7,01? the drawings, the segmental gear F, is-provided on its face other end toa rod B to the outer end of which is adjustably secured bymeans of a set screw a a rod orbarB, which extends-into the cavity of the extension tube or arm A, which is designed to telescope with the-arm A and is adjusted thereon by means- 0f' theset or thumb-screw a which operatesin' the' slot a,

of the arm A -Near its'outei end the extension ar1n-or tube A is provided with a longitudinal slot b, which is for theoperation of the axis h, of the finger H, which finger is movably secured in theendof the rodBHa-nd is'provid'edon its lower portion with a rubber or elastic covering or cushion H. The-lower surface of the extension tube or arm A is formed with a longitudinal slot b, one edge of which slot is provided with gear teethb to mesh with a coggedgear 7%, located onthe axis h, of the fingerI-l. Thelowersurface of the extension tube or arm A, at the inner end of the slot 1), therein is provided with a stationary finger H the lower portionof which finger is also covered with rubber or an elastic cushion H.

t In Fig. 10 of the drawings, I have'shown a modification in the construction-and operation of the leaf clasping and: turning-mechanism, which consists of an extensiontube or arm A which may be secured'to the arm or tube A in the same mannenas the arm A, which has just above been described. The modified construction of the arm A illustrated in Fig. 10, isprovided on its upper surface with a slot b and on its lower surface with another slot N, which slots are for the reception of the-finger I, which fingeris fixed on the end of the rod or bar 13, and is provided on its lower portion with a covering H,

I of rubber or other elastic material. The lower surfaceof "the arm A near the inner end of the slot 19 therein, is provided with a finger 1,--which is rigid on the arm A and also has a rubber or elastic covering. In the sides'of the arm A and between the fingers I, and I,

is pivotally secured a trip lever K, which extends, as shown in Fig. 10, through the slots 'b yand b and is held in its normal position by means of a spring 70, one end of which is attachedto the lever and the other end to the side'of the arm A as is clearly shown in the last named figure of the drawings.

From'the foregoing and by reference to the drawings, it will be seen and readily understood, that'whenonr device is inposition-on thepiano, the horizontal arms D, having the spring'actuated catches D will belocated at the upper edge of the sheets and that the feet or cross pieces d ,;of said catches will normally rest against the front or face surface of the leaves, thus holding them in the desired position.

The arm A is located just'above the arm D, and the extension arm A, may be adjusted to suit-the width of the sheet, by meansof the'set screw a that is, the tube A carrying the fingers H,-and- H may be shortened'or extended bytelescoping it with the :tube A until the finger H, will be located at;

the outer edge of thesheet.

7 It is obvious that the rods B and B, may be suitably adjustedwby means of their setscrew a When the arms A and A, shall have been adjusted, as above stated, and the finger H, placed against the. outer edge of the sheet of paper to be turned, the rear side surface of the arm 1 A will strike againstlthe arm D of one of z -thecatches D and will raise its lower fork D,- from the sheet, as will be understood by -referenceito Figs. 2, and 4, of thedrawings.

. When it is desired to turn the sheet,the knee arm f, on the segmental gear F, which as before stated is 'pivotally secured on the lower surface'of' the key-board or desk of the piano,

may be moved toone side, when the section g, of-teeth, on the g ar F, will mesh with the gear E, on the rod B, causing the same to turn and-through its crank shaft B,'the rods B B ,and B to draw the finger H,- toward the fingerH in which operation the gear 72. on the axis h,of the finger H, meshing with the teeth'b in the slot b", will cause thefinger H,

finger'H, toward the finger H the former named :finger willpass to the rear of the sheet li -thus clamping or "pinching the sheet between thetwo fingers, as is shown in Fig. 12. The segmental-gear F, is now pressed further by means of the knee of the operator, when the section 9, of teeth will engage the segmental gear A, rigid on the standard or tube A, which will cause the said standard carrying the arms or tubes A and A to be turned to the opposite side, thus carrying the sheet with them. The sections g, and of the teeth on the gear F, will also engage the gear E, and cause the fingers to release the sheet after it has been turned.

Should it be desired to repeat the music on the sheet, lcefore the same has been released by the fingers it can be replaced to its normal position by the reverse movement of the segmental gear F, through its knee fork, before the section of teeth mesh the gear E. In using the modification illustrated in Fig. 10, of the drawings, the same operation is observed, but the action of the fingers I, and I, on the sheet L, is different, for the reason that the finger], does not revolve and it will not for this reason pass to the rear of the sheet, but will adhere to its front surface, and will cause it, the sheet, to bend into the position shown by continuous lines in Fig. 14, when in the progress of the finger I, toward the finger I, the former named finger will strike the upper portion of the trip lever K, which operation will force the lower portion thereof downward to the rear of the sheet and cause it to be clamped between the finger and the lever K, as shown in Fig. 14, of the drawings, when the operation of turning the sheet will be the same as above described.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a leaf turner, the combination of the main standard ortubehavingits bearingin the piano or stand, with a horizontal adjustable arm at its top, provided on its lower surface with a fixed finger, an operating rod aligned with the main standard and extending into the said arm and provided with a crank shaft at its upper part, an adjustable and pivotally jointed rod or bar aligned with the adjustable arm, and pivotally secured to the crank shaft at one of its ends, a finger secured to the other end of said rod or bar and adapted to engage the sheet, and means at the bottom of the standard to turn the same and to revolve the operating rod, substantially as described.

2. In a leaf turner, the combination of the adjustable main standard or tube, with a horizontal adjustable arm at its top provided on its lower surface with a fixed finger, an operating rod Within the said standard and exlow horizontal arm at its top provided on its lower surface with a fixed finger, an operating rod within the said standard and extending into said arm and provided at its top with a crank shaft, a jointed rod within said arm pivotally secured at one of its ends to the crank shaft, a finger having its hearings in the said arm and secured to the other end of the jointed rod and adapted to engage the sheet, and means at the bottom of the standard to turn the same and to revolve the operating rod, substantially as described.

4:. In a leaf turner the combination of a main standard ortube, with a hollow horizontal arm at its top provided on its lower surface with a fixed finger, an operating rod within the said standard and extending into the said arm and provided at its top with a crank shaft, a jointed rod within said arm, pivoted to the crank shaft, a finger having its bearings in said arm and an elastic covering, secured to the other end of thejointed rod and adapted to engage the sheet, a collar loosely mounted on the upper part of the main standard and having horizontal arms provided with spring actuated catches to normally hold the sheets, and means for turning the standard and of revolving the operating rod, substantially as described.

5. In a leaf turner the con'ibination of the standard A, with the tube A adj ustably secured thereto, the arm A secured to the top of the tube A and having the longitudinal slot ct, the tube or arm A, having the slot I), in its upper surface and the slot b provided with gear teeth if, and the finger H in its lower surface, adjustably secured to the arm A the rod B pivoted at one end to the crank shaft and at its other end to the rod E the rods B and B adjustably secured together within the arms A and Aflthe finger H,having the elastic covering 11, axis 71, operating in the slots b and I), and the gear 7L2, on the axis h, and adapted to mesh with the teeth b and means for turning the standard, and of revolving the operating rod, all constructed, arranged and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a leaf turner the combination of the standard A, with the tube A adjustably secured thereto, the arm A secured to the top of the tube A and having the longitudinal slot at, the tube or arm A, having the slot 5 in its upper surface and the slot Z), provided with gear teeth 6 and the finger 1-1 in its lower surface, adjustably secured to the arm A the rod 13 pivoted at one end to the crank shaft, and at its other end to the rod B the rods B and B, adjustably secured together within the arms A and A, the finger H, having the elastic covering II, axis h, operating in the slots Z), and b and the gear 71 on the axis h, and adapted to mesh with the teeth the collar D, loosely mounted on the tube A and provided with the arms D, the spring actuated catches D secured 011 each end of the arms D, and means for turning the stand- ICC IIC

ard and of revolving the operating rod, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantia ly as and for the purpose set forth.

7. I11 a leaf turner the combination of the standard A, with the tube A adjustably secured thereto, the arm A secured to the top of the tube A and having the longitudinal slot a, the tube or arm A, having the slot b iin its upper surface and the slot 1), provided with gear teeth 19 and the finger H in its lower surface, adjustably secured to the arm A the rod B pivoted at one end to the crank shaft and at its other end to the rod E the rods B and B adjustably secured together or tube, the gear E, fixed to the bottom of the.

operating rod and the segmental gear F, having on its face teeth in sections to mesh with the gears A,- and E, and pivotally secured to the piano or stand, and having means to engage the knee or leg of the performer, all constructed, arranged, and operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

cured to the outer end of said rod and adapted.

to operate in said slots, substantially as described.

9. An arm or tube having a slot in its upper and lower surfaces and provided on its lower surface with a fixed finger, a rod within said tube adapted to 'be moved longitudinally therein, a finger having an elastic cover, movably secured to the outer end of said rod and adapted to travel with a rotary motion in said slots, substantially as described.

10. The arm or tube A, having the slot. b in its upper surface, and the slot b ,provided with the teeth b and finger H in its lower surface, the rod B, adapted to be moved longitudinally in said tube, and the finger 11, secured to said rod and having the axis h, the gear 71 on said axis to engage the teeth 22 and the elastic cover H, substantially as described.

MAX THOMSEN. SAMUEL E. ALLERTON.

Witnesses:

CHAS. C. TILLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

